Retinal distributions of the macular pigment and the cone effective optical density from colour matches of real observers

Two major factors causing a change in colour matches between large and smal l fields are macular pigmentation and cone outer-segment lengthening We hav e simulated the effect of the macular pigment optical density (o.d.) and of the cone effective o,d. on colour matches and demonstrated that ignoring t he change of cone o.d. between the fovea and the periphery leads to over-es timation of the variation of macular pigment o.d. We have examined the colo ur matches of 4 observers on 30 degrees, 7 degrees, 3 degrees and 1.2 degre es fields, published by Vienot (1983) and modeled the change of macular pig ment o.d and cone o.d, with eccentricity. Neither macular pigment o,d. nor cone o.d vary much beyond 7 degrees diameter. For the observers, the differ ence of macular pigment o.d. between 2 degrees and 10 degrees fields is wit hin the range 0.22-0.41 and the difference of cone o.d. between 2 degrees a nd 10 degrees fields is within the range 0.07-0.12, when the change of cone o.d is correctly allowed for. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.